Repeater system for gyro-compasses.



E. A SPERRY.

REPEATEH SYSTEM FORGYRO-COMPASSD APPLlCATlON HLLD AUG.23.19I5.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I ATTOR: '11 Y E. A. SPEYRRY.

REPEATER SYSTEM FOR -GYRO-COMPASSES. APPLlCATION FILED Aue.23, 1915.

- 1,296,449. Patented Mar. 4,1919.

a 2 SHEETSSHEET 2. w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER A. SPERRY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR i110 THE SPERRYGYROSCOFPE COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, a conronarxon, or NEW YORK;

REPEATER sys rnm r03 GYRo-comPAssEs.

1,296,410. Specification of Iiettersratent. ,7 V t t i 4, 9

Continuation in part of application Serial No. 634,595, filed June 21,1911. rms'a ucama filed August 23, 1915. Serial No. 46,819.

T fil- M if may c c r vise a simple means of setting the repeater 65 'Beit known that. I, ELMER A. SPERRY, compasses without disturbingthemaster citizen of the United States of America,re gyro. Anotherobject is to improve on the siding at .100 Marlborough road, Brooklyn,general construction of repeating systems.

X. .Y.. have invented certain new and useful Referring to thedrawings inwhich what 1'} Improvements in Repeater Systems for I now consider to bethe preferred forms of Gyro-Compasses, of which the following is -myinvention are-illustrated, Figure 1' is'a ifi tio I I plan view of 'arepeater compass partially This invention relates to means forreprobroken away to show the operating mecha- 10 ducing at a distancethe readings of a master nism. Fig. 2 is a Wiring diagram ofthe compassor other indicator. This applicomplete repeating system showing onecation contains matter divided from i'apmethod'of setting theindicators. Fig. 3 is plicants copending. application Ser. 1N0. a planview of the settinginstrument. Fig. 634.595, gyroscopic navigationapparatus, 4 is a vertical section on line 41% of Fig. 3.

15 filed June 21, 1911, patented Feb. 5, 1918, Fig. 5 is awiringdiagramshowing a modi- Patent No. 1,255,480, and hence is acontmfied setting or synchronizing system from nation thereof.

that shown in. F g. 2. Fig. 6-is a diagram- For navigating the modernwarship, inmatic plan v'iewandFigB isa-similarseccluding the submarine,one or more gyro- "tional view of 'an indicator designed accord- 20scopic compasses are now employed, which ing to-this modification: Fig.7 is a detail are placed down in the hold of the ship out. showing onemethod of mounting the transof the danger zone and near the center ofmitter on the master indicator or gyro-comthe vessel, so as to beout ofthe path of the pass. Fig. 9 is a detailed section showing enemys fireand free from disturbances due. a modified form-of transmitter. Fig. 10is 25 to the rolling of the ship. The readings of a section on line10-10 of Fig. 9. Fig.11 the master compass are then reproduced at is adetailed section of the local setting several convenient points on theship by means for the repeaters. i means of indicators which I termrepeater The master instrument or indicator is compasses or repeaters.The repeaters conshown diagrammatically at 1 in FigsQQand 30 tainstep-by-step motors which are elec- 5, the transmitter mounted thereonbeing trically actuated from a transmitter on the indicated at 2. Onemethod of mounting th master compass. This invention relates totrz'tnsmitt-er is shown in Fig. 7. A large gear a new and improvedindicating system espe- 3' is secured to the indicator. and thetranscially adapted for use as the repeating pormitter 2 is r otatablymounted on a relatively 85 tion of a gyro-navigational unit. Theinstationary part4, the details of which form Yention has for one of itsprincipal. objects no part of this inventiombeing embodied'in theproduction of a simple setting or synmy copending'application abovereferred to.

chronizing means whereby the repeaters may A pinion 5 on the shaftof thetransmitter K be brought into agreement with the master meshes with gear3. v

40 compass. The type of transmitter I employ may-as- .\ccording to therepeating system I emsume several different forms. As shown in ploy,both the transmitters and repeater Fig. 7 and in the two wiring diagramsit motors are geared to, rotate a number of comprises a rotarycommutator provided times for each revolution of the indicator, so witha plurality of sections, preferablyv one 45 that. if the two instrumentsshould fall out sectiongreate'r than the number of pairs of of step.some extraneous means must be used poles in the repeater motors 7 used.The to bring the two into synchronisnn. The commutator is so designedthat therepeater problem is further complicated by the fact motor willhave twice as many steps or posithat the master compass cannotbe'maniputions per revolution as it has poles. This 50 lated. whenrunning. in order to synchronize result is secured by laying out thecommuthe repeaters and by the fact that a plurality tator so that acircuit is completed 'simulof repeaters are normally operated from onetaneously through two adjacent pairs of master compass. poles betweenthe time that it is completed The main object of this invention is todethrough each pair separately. For instance,

in- Fig. 10. Another brush bears on the in the illustration, shown therepeater motor" two approximately 90 conducting segments 8 placeddiametrically opposite. The conducting segments on theseveral sectionsare positioned 30' ahead of the segments on the adjacent section, so asto secure the result above indicated. Thefourth: section 11 provides acommon return for all the sections.

The transmitter shown in Figs. 9and 10 is ofsomewhat different form butsecures the same result. In this form but a single longitudinal section12 is provided on the commutator, which is divided into three radialsegments 13". A single brush 14 bears on the commutator and itscontactingportionis of sufficient area to bridge over the insulationbetween the sections 13 so that it may cover more than one section 13 ata time, as shown conducting section 16 so as to furnish a common returnfor the sections. It will readily be seen with a properly designedbrush14 that this form of transmitter will secure the same 'results assecured by the transmitter shownlin the Wiring diagrams.

Turning now to: the construction of the indicator, which'is shown in theform of a repeater compass, reference numeral 17 denotes a gimbal ringsupport for the compass. The main casing is shown at 18 and is providedwith trunnions 19 so as to be supported from the main gimbal ring 17.

Within the casiig is supported a repeater motor 7' such as shown in thewiring diagrams. The motor may be geared to .the

compass card 20 so as to rotate the same.

through any suitable form of gearing such as a pinion '(not shown) onthe motor shaft 21, reduction gears 22 and large gear 23 secured to theshaft 24 on which the card is mounted. An electro-magnetic lock 25 isprovided for the card. Preferably this takes the form of a lockingfinger 26, the

' end of which is adapted to engage a notch An 27 in a collar 28 on themotor shaft.

electromagnet 29 serves to draw the latch into engagement with the notchwhen excited, a spring 30 serving to hold the latch normally retracted.In circuit ,with said magnet are a pair of contact fingers 31 mounted ona stationary. part of the repeater-compass and a button 32 mounted on arotating part such as the underside of the compass card, the wholeconstituting a form of switch'33.

The synchronizer or setting. transmitter 133 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.The instru ment is preferably located near the master with. transmitter2 on the master compass.

compass, on the switch panel on which the various switches, etc., forcontrolling the compass are placed. It comprises a casing 34, withinwhich the transmitter, proper, 35 is rotatably'mounted- On the shaft 36of said transmitter are mounted a handle 37, notched collar 38 and bevelgear 39. g A spring-pressed roller 40 bears. against said collar and isadapted to engage the notch or notches 81 so as to facilitate thebringing of the dials to a predetermined position.

Bevel gear 39 meshes with gear 41, on the shaft of which is mounted apinion 42 meshing with a gear 43 on the shaft 44 of the dial 45. pinion46 is also mounted on=80 said shaft and serves to drive reduction; gears47, which drive annular dial 48 through gear 49. A spider 80 is shown assecured to gear 49 for supporting the anvnulus. Both dialsma'y be read011a single index 50. The notches 81 in'collar38 are so arranged as, toengage the roller 40 when a graduation on either or both of the dials isunder the index. I v

-A complete synchronizing system for two repeater compasses is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 2. Normally, the double-throw switch 51 is inthe position shown, so that the repeater motors 7 and 7 are in circuit aIn case, itv should become necessary to set any or all of the repeaters,the switch 51 is thrown over, thereby throwing setting transmitter 35into the circuit. Preferably switch 51 serves also to close the circuitcontaining magnets 29, and 29 within the repeaters,,as at 82, so thatthe lock will 'become effective. It should be observed, however, thatthemagnet will not be excited until switch 33 is also closed, that-is untilthe card reaches a predetermined position, and also that the accuracy ofthe locked position is increased by locating the notch 27 on a partwhich makes a large number of revolutions per revolution of the compasscard. To set any 'or all of the repeaters to agree with the mastercompass, the opera-.1 tor, after throwing switch 51, turns dial 48.'through at least one complete revolution by; turning handle 37, stoppingthe dial at 0.1115 He may thenbe sure that all of the repeaters arealso'at zero or north, since switch 33 and notch 27. are positioned soas to lock the repeater in this position. Great accuracy is secured bypositioning notch 27 in the same phase relation-with respect to themotor armature as notch'81 is positioned with re- I spect to transmitter35, so that when the operator stops the dials 45 and 48 at zero and withroller 40in notch 81, he may be sure thatthe transmitter and repeatermotor 7 are in the same phase relation. If this relation were notestablished, the armature ofrepeater motor 7 would jump around, eitherforward or backward to the proper 130 phase relation when finger 26 iswithdrawn from notch 27, and thus destroy the accuracy of theinstrument. After bringing the two instruments to zero and to the samephase relation, the operator opens the magnet circuit, as by a switch83, which is normally closed, 'turnsthe dial 48 to the exact reading ofthe master compass and finally returns switches 51 and 83 to theirnormal positions.

An individual or'local setting means may also be employed for eachrepeater. This preferably assumes the form of a crown gear 85 mounted ona shaft 86 which is held normally retracted Within its containing sleeve87 b a spring-88. By pushing in on handle 89, t 1e crown gear may bebrought into contact with gear 23 or the like, so that the repeater maybe set by turning the handle.

The setting system shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 varies in several detailsfrom the main form, but the principle of operation is the same. Similartransmitters 2 and 35 are provided.

The repeater compass embodies a motor 60, the six field poles of whichare wound with coils 61, which are operated to attract an armature 62,which turns upon the central pivot 62, driving, by means of a pinion,

the gear Wheel 63, which in turn operates the gear wheel 64, and drivesany form of arc indicator, such as the pointer 65, which moves with thegear wheel 64= and cooperates with the stationary scale 65; or, as isusual,

"A handle or equivalent device 67' is prothe same to exactly center withreference to vided in any suitable locality, as at the lower end of thestem 64", foroperating the pointer at will or manually setting oradjusting. A magnet, preferably polarized, is indicated at 68, and whenenergized in the proper direction, as by a reversing switch 69 (Fig.5),serves to elevate a pin 68', so

that its top engages either one side or the other of a stop on thepointer 65. This works in an elongated slot 68 (Fig. 6), so that itsengagement upon either side of the projection 65" of the pointer 65 willcause the scale. If the scale is the moving element, the stop 65 will,of course, be fastened thereto.

The double throw switch 51 performs the same function as in the otherform of the invention. I also prefer to make as a part thereof a switch69 which automatically reverses magnet 68 when the repeaters are thrownon the setting transmitters. In such event, reversing switch 69 is onlyused after the repeaters have been set to zero, in order to release thelock.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment there-jof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.'Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements inthe combination and relations described, some of these may be alteredand others omitted without interfering with the more general resultsoutlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s y 1. In combination with a master instru ment and adistantrepeatin indicator for repeating the movements 0 saidinstrucment. two electrical transmitters, one driven by the movements ofsaid instrument, and means for throwing the repeating system intoconnection with either one or the other of such transmitters.

2. In combination with a gyro-compass and a distant repeating dial orpointer for repeating the indications of the compass, two electricaltransmitters. one driven by the movements of the gyro-compass and theother adapted to be actuated at will, and means for throwing therepeatingsystem into connection with either one or the other of suchtransmitters.

r 3. In navigational apparatus, the-combination with a masterinstrument, of a' distant repeating device including amovable indicator,an electrical connection between the instrument and the device andelectrical. means for setting or adjusting the indicatorto agree withthe indications of the instrument including means for temporarilyarresting said indicator at a predetermined point.

bination with a direction indicating instrument of a number of repeatingcompasses electrically connected thereto, including means for normallymaintainingsaid compasses in synchro'nism with said instrument and othermeans for setting or adjusting the several compasses whena compass fallsout of synchronism.

5. In gyro navigation apparatusa dial or pointer and a distant repeatingsystem for repeating the indications of such. a dial or 4. In anavigational apparatus, the. com-q pointer, electrical connectionsbetween the compass andthe repeating system and electrical means formanually setting or adjusting the dial or pointer of the repeaters toagree with the indication of the gyrocompass.

6. In combination with a gyro-compass an electric transmitter operatedby the apparent movements thereof, a distant repeating dial or pointerfor repeating the indications of the compass, comprising a step-by-stcpelectric motor having its field magnet pole pieces arranged in pairs,the pole pieces of each pair being situated diametrically opposite andwound so as to be energized to- 1 get-her, the transmitting device beingarranged to energize the said pole pieces in single and double pairsalternately, substantially for the purpose specified.

7. In combination with a gyro-compass, an electric transmitter operatedby the apparent movements thereof, a distant repeating dial or pointerfor repeating the indications of the compass, and means for rotatingsaid dial comprising a step-by-step electric motor having iield coils,the motor being controlled by the transmitter, the arrangement beingsuch that the motor performs twice as many steps to one full cycle ofthe transmitter as there are field coils upon the motor.

8. In combination with a gyro-compass, an electric transmitter operatedby the apparent movements thereof, adistant repeating dial or pointerfor repeating the indica-. tions of the compass, and means for rotatingsaid dial comprising a step-by-step electric motor having pole pieces,the motor being controlled by the transmitter, the arrangement beingsuch that the motor performs twice as many steps to one full cycle ofthe transmitter as there are pole pieces upon the motor.

9. In a repeater system, a master transmitter, a plurality of repeatermotors, a common set-ting transmitter connected to. said motors and anelectric switch located between the motors and said transmitters adaptedto disconnect the motors from the master transmitter and to connect themto said setting transmitter.

10. In a repeater system a transmitter driven by a master indicator, arepeater motor actuated from said transmitter,a setting transmitter andmeans for throwing said repeater motor into circuit with said settingtransmitter.

11. In a repeater system a transmitter driven by a master indicator, arepeater motor actuated from said transmitter, a set ting transmitterand means for throwing said repeater motor out of circuit with saidfirst mentioned transmitter and into circuit with said settingtransmitter.

12. In an indicating system, the combinacuit and for rendering said lockoperative. I

13. In an indicating system, the combina tion with a master indicatorand transmitter and a repeating indicator adapted to be' actuatedthereby, of a setting transmitter, an indicator connected to saidsetting transmitter, a lock on said repeating indicator adapted to holdit in a predetermined posi tion, when operative, means for throwing saidrepeating indicator from the master transmitter circuit to the settingtransmitter circuit and for rendering said'lock operative, andindependent means for rendering said lock inoperative.

14. In a repeater system, the combination with a repeater motor andindicator, reduction gearing between said motor and indicator, anormally inoperative electrical locking means for said motor adapted,when excited, to lock the motor in a predetermined position. a settingtransmitter and indicator reduction gearing between said transmitter andindicator, a position indicating click for said transmitter and amanually operable switch in circuit with said locking means, wherebyboth the indicators and the motor and transmitter may be brought intothe same phase relation.

15. In a repeater system, the combination with a repeater motor andindicator, reduction gearing between said motor and indicator, anormally inoperative electrical looking means for said motoradapted,when excited, to lock the motor in a predetermined position, asetting transmitter and indica. tor, a position indicating click forsaid transmitter, a manually operable switch in circuit with saidlocking means, and a second switch in said circuit adapted to be closedwhen said repeating indicator is in a predetermined position, wherebyboth tli', indicators and the motor and transmitter may betbrought intothe same phase relation.

16. In a repeater system, the combination with a sending instrument, ofa repeating indicator, a motor connected to said indicator adapted tocause it to repeat at a distance the movements of said instrument,auxiliary control means, means for substituting said auxiliary controlmeans for said sending instrument, and a lock associated with saidindicator, adapted to lock it when it has reached a predeterminedposition.

17. In a repeating system, the combina' tion with a sending instrumentand a transmitter connected thereto, of a repeating indicat-orcomprising a repeater motor adapted to be actuated from saidtransmitter, an indicator controlled by said motor, a normallyinoperative lock for said indicator,

. adapted when ex eited to lock the indicator in a predeterminedposition, means located adjacent said sending instrument for operatingsaid lock, an auxiliary transmitter and means for substituting said lastnamed transmitter for the first named one.

18. A system for repeating the position of an object at a distancecomprising a repeating device remotely located with refer ence to saidobject, means connecting said object and said repeating device,auxiliary control means located adjacent said object and means forbreaking the connection between said object and repeating device and forconnecting said repeating device to said auxiliary control means.

19. A system for repeating the position of an object at a distancecomprising a repeating device remotely located with reference to saidobject, means for actuating said repeating device on movement of saidobject and means including an element actuatable at a position adjacentsaid object for causing actuation of said repeating device Withoutdisturbing the position of said object. Q

In testimony whereof I have signed my named to this specification, thiseighteenth day of August, 1915.

ELMER A. SPERRY.

